In a very short period of time, the unprecedented coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created extremely difficult economic circumstances for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Federal, state and local governments have moved swiftly to roll out assistance programs to help keep businesses afloat in these trying times. Although there are more programs to come, below is a summary of the existing loan and grant programs of which businesses may consider availing themselves, as well as some practice recommendations for...

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Department of Homeland Security Introduces Flexibility for In-Person I-9 Rules On March 20, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an announcement that it will relax the requirement for employers to review employee’s identity and work authorization documents in person and complete Section 2 of the Form I-9. Employers may now inspect Section 2 documents remotely (i.e., over webcam, fax, email, etc.) and obtain, inspect and retain copies of the documents within three business days. CONTINUE READING... AUTHORS: • Sari M. Long,...

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With intra-EU borders closing, whole economies going into lockdown and intricate global supply chains breaking down, EU leaders this week pledged to do whatever it takes to protect the economy and support a rapid recovery.   Following the European Central Bank’s announcement last week that it would significantly step up its asset-purchasing programme to €120 billion by the end of the year and temporarily relax rules to encourage banks to step up lending to the real economy, the Bank’s Governing Council...

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I have been working from home since my first corporate job at Accenture in 2010 so I understand the expectations from a organisational and a personal perspective. But there are some of you out there who have never had to work from home and believe me, there is a way to work from home (WFH) successfully.   The difference being, in pre Corona Virus (Covid 19) times many organisations had begun to incorporate WFH into the lives of their employees with...

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The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has announced regulatory forbearance for banks and investment firms subject to the upcoming reporting obligation under the Securities Financing Transaction Regulation (SFTR). The SFTR requires all securities financing transactions (SFTs) to be reported to EU-recognized trade repositories. SFTs involve the use of securities to borrow cash or other high investment-grade securities and include repurchase transactions, securities lending and sell/buy backs. The reports must include details on the composition of collateral, whether collateral...

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You have likely seen pictures of young people on spring break at the beach NOT practicing social distancing or anything remotely resembling it. You may have heard news commentators, government officials and even family members railing against the “stupidity” of these young adults. In many cases, they’re all being branded as Millennials (born 1981-1996). Let us be clear and fair: Gen Z (born 1997-2010) is on spring break right now. Millennials may be packing bars in big cities, but more...

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In a national effort to curtail the spread of COVID-19, we are witnessing the rise of the remote workforce. While companies are focusing on ways to protect their employees, clients and families, cyber attackers are infiltrating insecure cybersecurity postures. CyZen’s advisors have been closely monitoring the rise in COVID-19-related cyber-attacks. Our experts have witnessed spearphishing campaigns and new forms of malware being spread through documents using the name, “coronavirus.” Knowing that largescale telecommuting is uncharted territory for many organizations, we...

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The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on human health, life and economic activity around the world. The virus has caused severe disruptions to the global economy, including the banning of travel, the cancellation of major events, and schools throughout the United States shifting to online learning. Businesses everywhere — including those of many of you reading this — are “going remote.” What happens to preexisting legal obligations in a pandemic world that nobody could have imagined?...

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Temporary Ban on Net Short Positions in Response to Market Turmoil in the Wake of Covid-19 Outbreak On March 17, 2020, CONSOB, the Italian markets and securities regulator, introduced an outright temporary ban on taking or increasing net short positions in respect of all shares admitted to trading on the Mercato Telematico Azionario (MTA), the Italian regulated stock market, pursuant to the terms of EU Regulations 236/2012 and 918/2012. The list of the restricted shares is included in Annex A. The temporary...

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